San Antonio Rose (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon Read Free Book Online

why
Emerada had come to his rescue-he thanked
his good fortune that she had. Scooping up his
sombrero, he clamped it on his head and hurried toward the door, taking care to hide his
blue eyes.
    "Just a moment," Santa Anna ordered. "You
appear to be a strong young man. If you have
so much energy, why are you not in my army?"
    Emerada linked her arm through Santa
Anna's and smiled up at him, drawing his attention away from the intruder. "Pedro is just a
harmless fool. He would be no better a soldier
for you than he is a guard for me. Let him godo it for me."

    Santa Anna looked doubtfully at the man
who paused in the doorway. "Still, we need
every able-bodied man to march against the
treasonous dogs in Tejas." He glanced down at
the beauty beside him, who looked at him
pleadingly. "Very well, for you I will let him
go." Santa Anna glared at Ian, who took care to
keep his eyes averted. "You have this lady to
thank for your freedom. Get out, and if I hear
of you troubling her again, you will be shot!"
    "Si, Senor Presidente," Ian muttered, then
moved out the door and down the stairs. His
thoughts were troubled as he mounted his
horse and rode out of the village. Why had the
dancer helped him escape?
    After Santa Anna's departure, Emerada took a
deep breath and let it out slowly. She had accomplished her goal tonight. Santa Anna was
interested in her, and if her luck held, she'd be
able to move at will in and out of his camp.
    "That man is gone, and you still have your
virtue, which is a blessing, since he is known
for despoiling young ladies," Josifina said with
disgust. "I have warned you many times about
him. There is danger in the game you play,
Emerada-grave danger."
    Emerada was accustomed to Josifina's grumbling, but she was right about Santa Anna-he
was a dangerous man to cross. "I do what I
must, and you know it."
    Josifina's shoulders seemed to slump more. "I know how you feel and why you do what you
do. But you cannot bring back the dead."

    Emerada's dark eyes glinted. "No, but I can
avenge their deaths-and I will."
    Without wasting any time, Emerada stepped
out of her gown and into a leather riding skirt.
    "If you must leave tonight, you will wear
something warm-it has turned cold," Josifina
insisted, going to the trunk and removing a
hooded woolen poncho, which she held out to
Emerada.
    Obediently Emerada slipped the poncho
over her head and walked to the door. "Do not
despair if you do not hear from me right away.
I will be gone for a few days. Just remember
that I can shoot straight and I can take care of
myself."
    Josifina knew it would do no good to argue
with Emerada when her mind was made up
about something. "I will not allow you to go
unless you take Domingo along."
    "Si. He is as fussy as you are, and it is not
likely that he would let me go alone." Emerada
came back and kissed Josifina on the cheek. "If
anyone asks about me, tell them I am ill and
cannot be disturbed."
    "I know what to do. Go quickly and come
back soon. I pray that God will guide you safely
back to me."
    Emerada threw her arms around the old
woman. "Yes, pray for me, because I am afraid. I know what I must do, but I also know
of the danger"

    She left quickly, while Josifina dabbed tears
from her eyes.
    The danger was real; Emerada knew this.
She was either committing treason, or she was
a patriot, depending on whether one asked
Santa Anna or Sam Houston.
    She went quickly down a side street and
found Domingo waiting for her beside their
horses. Josifina had been right: It had turned
bitterly cold and started to snow. It would be a
long ride to Houston's encampment, but she
was determined to confront him about sending
his claw to spy on her!
    As they rode out of the village, making a
wide sweep to avoid Santa Anna's troops, the
weather grew worse.
    After they had ridden for an hour, the snow
was whipped up by a strong wind. Domingo
guided Emerada to a barn, where they would